Redefining Reality - The Intellectual Implications of Modern Science

As scientists have started looking at the interaction between
medications and the digestive system, they have discovered about
100 trillion bacteria that naturally live in the gut and play crucial
roles in the body’s ability to function properly. These bacteria break
down certain chemicals in our food to new forms that the body can
use and create an environment that allows for the immune system
to work properly. This ecosystem inside of our bodies, called
the microbiome, is essential to good health. Bacteria are not evil
invaders; some of them are our partners.
Some bacteria are harmful, and they need to be stopped to cure
some ailments, but our weapons—antibiotics—have also been
eliminating the bacteria populating the microbiome. We have been
harming ourselves by not realizing that we are not just ourselves.
We are not individuals but walking communities.
pattern that we will see repeated throughout this course.
individuals; these independent entities are studied closely.
Soon, we realize that we cannot understand reality entirely by
looking at the pieces; rather, we need to see the pieces in relation
to one another. Thus, we begin to look at a more complicated
reality in which there is interaction between elements.
atomic entities but a complex interrelated system, a web of
interdependence.
Carter, .
Descartes, .
Kuhn, .
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